Exploring the Role of Practice Managers in Dutch Oral Healthcare Practices.

Introduction And Aims: The practice manager (PM) is a familiar position in Dutch oral healthcare. However, little is known about in which type of practice they work and what their responsibilities are. The aims of this study were to analyse the characteristics of oral healthcare practices that employ a PM and practices that do not, to determine responsibility for tasks described in the PM function description, and to assess to what extent the role of a PM varies between those with an oral healthcare and another background, and across practices with different characteristics.

Surgical removal versus retention for the management of asymptomatic disease-free impacted wisdom teeth.

Background: Prophylactic removal of asymptomatic disease-free impacted wisdom teeth is the surgical removal of wisdom teeth in the absence of symptoms and with no evidence of local disease. Impacted wisdom teeth may be associated with pathological changes, such as pericoronitis, root resorption, gum and alveolar bone disease (periodontitis), caries and the development of cysts and tumours. When surgical removal is performed in older people, the risk of postoperative complications, pain and discomfort is increased.